Download Foreign prisoners

Prison staff and harm reduction
Additional module:
Foreign prisoners
Training Criminal Justice Professionals
in Harm Reduction Services for Vulnerable Groups
funded by the
European Commission
Directorates General for Health and Consumers
Foreign prisoners
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Lecture
Foreign prisoners – definition and facts
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How do we define foreign
prisoners?
 Prisoners not carrying the passport of the country
of imprisonment, including
 Those having lived for a longer period of time in the
country of imprisonment without having been
naturalised
 Prisoners who have stayed for a short period of time in
the country of imprisonment
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Foreign prisoners – facts and figures I.
 Rising numbers of foreign prisoners due to globalisation,
migration, trafficking and transnational crime
 Around 21% of the prison population in Europe comprises
foreign nationals
 Taking those with a migration background into account,
numbers are presumably higher
 The number of foreign national prisoners is increasing in Europe
 In some countries, those violating immigration laws are
imprisoned
 Foreign nationals are often socio-economically disadvantaged,
having already faced inadequate health care and limited access
to drug treatment before entering prison
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Foreign prisoners – facts and figures II.
 Especially high numbers of foreign prisoners in
countries with a large migrant labour force
 Toughening of sentences for property crime and
drug offences in many European countries
 Increased prison population
 Socially and economically disadvantaged people from
minority groups and foreign nationals have suffered
particularly
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Foreign prisoners – facts and figures III.
 By tackling the specific needs of foreign
prisoners, tension in the prison can be reduced
and prison management be improved
 From the perspective of foreign prisoners, such
strategies lead to a better integration into prison
services and improve the health status
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Activity
Brainstorming on problems foreign
nationals may encounter in prison
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Lecture
Special needs of foreign prisoners
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Access to justice
 Potential lack of understanding of the operation of
the legal system due to cultural reasons and
language barriers
 Difficulties to find adequate legal counsel
 Difficulties during interrogations, e.g. in countries
where confessions have to be signed
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Isolation I.
 Lack of contact with families and communities
 Lack of support necessary for social reintegration
 Lack of knowledge of their right to contact the
diplomatic representative of their country of origin
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Isolation II.
 Many foreign prisoners are imprisoned for drug
crimes
 The proportion is particularly high for women
 Up to 80% of the female prison population with a
foreign nationality are convicted for drug offences
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Language barriers
 Impaired communication with other prisoners and
prison staff
 Exclusion from many prison activities
 A lack of understanding of prison rules
 Lack of understanding of their rights and obligations
 Possible unintended breaking of the rules
 Exclusion from certain services, as requests often
have to be made in writing
 Dependence on interpreters
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Immigration status
 Potential loss of legal permit to reside in the
country of imprisonment
 Lack of knowledge and assistance as regards
immigration laws, rights and duties
 Cooperation between immigration authorities and
prison administrations mostly non-existent
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Discrimination I.
 Discrimination can be visible in verbal and
physical abuse or more subtle reflected by:
 The security level foreign prisoners are allocated
 The accommodation they are given
 The number of disciplinary punishments
 Searching procedures and methods
 The type of work they are given
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Discrimination II.
 Foreign national prisoners are often not
considered for home leave or day paroles
 Foreign national prisoners are often not
considered for non-custodial measures
 Alternatives to prison, like therapeutic treatment
for drug dependent persons, are less likely to be
applied
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Health
 High rates of mental health problems which might
result from or lead to problem drug use
 Special health care needs due to socio-economic
marginalization in society
 Those who also have problem drug use may
have experienced poor preventive health,
inadequate medical care and treatment prior to
imprisonment
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Culture and religion
 Foreign national prisoners may have special
needs relating to:
 Facilities for worship
 Special diets
 Hygiene requirements
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Release
 Foreign prisoners are likely to be ill-prepared for
release
 Inability to take part in special preparatory release
programmes
 Lack of contact and ties with family and community
 Possible deportation
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Activity
The specific situation in the prison and
possible approaches to overcome
problems
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